Macau no “Panorama” de Leicester Square (Londres) em 1840: 3ª parte

Ecos na imprensa
A exibição do “Panorama” de Macau mereceu abundante referência na imprensa da época.
Na edição de 13 de Junho de 1840 do The Literary Gazette pode ler-se na secção “Varieties” um artigo com o título “Panorama of Macao” com rasgados elogios ao novo espectáculo em cena na capital britânica.
“Coming events, it would seem, not only cast their shadows but their pictures before. Here, in Leicester Square, have we been, during the past week indulging in the contemplation of an admirable panorama of Macao, peering at the Chinese junks, casting a suspicious glance at very suspicious looking opium clippers, thinking the tan kea or egg house boats picturesque, and wondering if there was a row how the Portuguese ships of war, and the English Lyra, Volage, Hyacinth, Harrier, etc. would act; and so there comes an express from India which makes this very view the scene of national action, just as if Mr Burford had painted it expressly for the occasion. Nothing could be more à propos than this new effort of the painter's art; and when we say that besides its temporary importance which will attract all London to visit, it as an accurate representation of a place so peculiarly interesting at the time it is a very beautiful specimen of effects. The shore, buildings, and mountains are finely done; but the water is still ably executed and some of the boats realities and not deceptions on canvass.”
Poucos dias depois, o jornal The Spectator escreveu assim na edição de 20 de Junho de 1840:
“Mr Burford's new panorama of Macao is attracting all the town to Leicester Square and the little O it encloses is sometimes inconveniently crowded with visitors as the day advances the public being almost as curious to behold the scene of the squabbles between Commissioner Lin and the Barbarian Elliot as to see the site of the last murder. A brief mention of the private view of this attractive picture was made the week before last but only in our second edition we have since paid another visit to it and took time to appreciate the skilful and effective painting Macao is a very picturesque spot for so small an island or peninsulet rather the two hills one crowned with a fort the other with a church at each extremity of the crescent formed by the shore are verdurous and the row of low white houses along the strand with green sun blinds and a church or two seen above their roofs has a very pretty and snug look Being a Portuguese settlement and the abode of foreign barbarians Macao has nothing purely Chinese about it except the junks in the harbour and an uncouth oblong box or two afloat which the matting sails proclaim to be boats. But this place is only a knob on the world's tea pot though it is one by which we may lift off the lid and look in to see what is brewing there and the hot water's poured in by this time no doubt.
The Hyacinth and Volage frigates in the offing the Portuguese merchantmen nearer inshore than any other foreign traders are allowed to come and the English cutters receiving on board passengers and luggage to be conveyed to the ships make a lively scene. The ludicrous appearance of the clumsy Chinese junks with matting sails attached to bamboo yards huge painted lanterns on their poop and round shields painted with faces like the sign of the Sun to protect the rowers contrasted with the tight and tall forms of the English vessels in gallant trim shows what fearful odds are on the side of the invaders it looks like battering toys to assail such gingerbread craft. The picture, we are told, was painted in haste; and it has not the finish of the view of Benares in the large circle but what is wanting in elaboration is made up in spirit and power. The tide rushing in is admirably represented and the waves under the bow of the cutter between it and the shore are fluid and in motion. The warm tone of the landscape is very agreeable and by contrast gives freshness lo the sea atmosphere.”

O jornal londrino The Era também noticiou o evento nas edições de 7 Junho, 22 Novembro e 20 Dezembro de 1840, incluindo alguns anúncios.
Referências ainda nas publicações Inverness Courrier (4.8.1841), Morning Advertiser (24.7.1840), The Morning Post (8.6.1840) e no jornal The Mirror (13.6.1840) cujo artigo se transcreve na íntegra…
“Saturday last we were favored with a private view of the above graphical painting The view of Macao being taken from the bay of Ty pa has enabled the talented artist to present a scene of the greatest interest bold effective and singularly picturesque for the Panorama exhibits the city in its most interesting aspect. Immediately in front of the spectator facing the east is the fine crescent curve of the Praya grande a broad and spacious quay unbroken by any wharf or jetty. At the back of the line rising like an amphitheatre on the sloping ground numerous houses are seen intermixed with churches gardens and airy summer houses the highest portion being broken into several hills crowned by forts has a fine effect and far above all arising from a neighbouring island towers a mountain of considerable elevation forming a noble back ground. 
Turning from the city the eye ranges over a vast extent of sea covered with ships of all nations and Chinese craft huge unsightly junks tan kea or eggboats which ply here by hundreds moving in various directions and depictured full of activity and life. It is impossible to speak too highly of this part of the painting it is effective in the extreme the pellucid yet ruffled agitation of the sea being refreshing and vigorous but it would be trifling to speak highly of only one part when the whole of the tableau is vivid faithful and masterly. We regard The Panorama of Macao as one of the happiest and most well timed of Mr Burford's productions and we feel no doubt the highly important nature of the subject at this particular juncture will attract intense public attention and amply repay the spirited proprietor for the care accuracy and talent bestowed by him on the subject.”

JB - 1.8.2018